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The scriptures assure us also that he transforms himself into an angel of light, 2 Cor. xi. 14. and here, again, the believer suffers. He not only deceives mere professors, by putting them upon plans of activity, of zeal, and of religion, while nothing but self is at the bottom, and nothing but error and inconsistency the consequence, but he would fain make the true believer suppose that his pride is nothing but a proper dignity, or his humility unnecessary abasement; that his natural courage is christian fortitude, or that his timidity is a becoming fear. In innumerable instances of this kind is he attacked; often is he injured, and loses much of his comfort through the wiles and stratagems, devices and cunning artifices of this deceiver of mankind. What necessity does the christian find here for ardent prayer, perpetual watchfulness, and entire dependence on a superior Power, lest he fall a continual victim to his insidious snares and cunning machinations!

As the christian is exposed to opposition from the god of this world, so of course he cannot fail to be discouraged by his emissaries. He stirs up the ungodly to slander, misrepresent, and persecute. Hence what distress have christians been involved in through the malice and enmity of wicked men ! Who can read the 11th chap. of the Hebrews, without the deepest emotions of sorrow? "They were tortured, not accepting of deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Others had trials of cruel mockings and scourgings; yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the

sword; they wandered about in sheep skins and goat skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented: they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens, and caves of the earth.” And since the apostle's day, what dreadful accounts does history afford of the cruelties exercised towards the righteous! Alas! what temples burnt, what property confiscated, what sanguinary methods adopted, what multitudes insulted, racked, banished, imprisoned, burnt, drowned, starved, or otherwise destroyed! It is true every age has not witnessed the same bloody scenes, the same excess of violence, the same horrid tortures; but as true christians are the same in every age, the world has been against them; and if milder laws have been adopted for the protection of their persons, and free toleration given for the ease of their consciences, yet their sentiments have not been less hated by, or their persons less obnoxious to, the wicked. As long also as christianity inculcates faithfulness and sincerity, purity and devotion, and as long as the heart of man retains its natural enmity against God, must we expect this opposition from them in a greater or less degree. Our conscientiousness will be construed into affected singularity, our solitude termed monkishness, our zeal denominated forwardness, our experience enthusiasm, our patience apathy, and our devotion hypocrisy. Say, christian, however circumspectly you have acted, whether these have not been some of the charges alledged against you by the devotees of this world. Their cold looks, their bitter speeches, their indifferent conduct towards you, have fully convinced you that the spirit is the same, and fully explains the words of our Lord: "If ye were of

the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." John xv. 19.

But a good man's opposition does not arise solely from the openly profane. There are those who pretend to be going the same road; but, alas! from ignorance, from bigotry, from prejudices, from enthusiasm, or from hatred to vital christianity, often dishearten and perplex: some injure his mind, by boasting of their fancied righteousness; others make him tremble, by turning liberty into licentiousness: some are ready to pour anathemas on his head, because he cannot believe with them; others treat him as a weak brother; because he is not always talking of the mysterious doctrines and eternal purposes of Jehovah, while others, again, are ready to unchristianize him, because he has seen the propriety of tempering his zeal with knowledge, and prefers cool deliberations to rash decisions. But, of all things, what distresses him most is to see the once flaming professor become an apostate, and turning back again to the world, and to his former courses. O, how does the christian feel for the cause! how is religion dishonoured, his Divine Master neglected, and privileges abused by such a conduct! How do the enemies of truth triumph, and what fresh occasion is given for their insult and contempt! Apostates seldom return silent; they come back tenfold more the children of the devil than ever they were before. They are generally filled with the deepest malignity; they give a bad report of the land, and, as they return, they use their utmost influence to turn others

back too. The world is ready to listen to their misrepresentations, and thus their prejudice is is increased.. Young professors are struck dumb. Those who before were indifferent, now renounce all pretensions; while the hypocrite is encouraged in his dissimulation, and the ungodly hardened in his sins. O, christian, what sensations are your's, while beholding these awful consequences of wilful apostacy! What tears do you shed! what sorrow do you experience while witnessing your Saviour crucified afresh, and put to an open shame! Heb. vi. 6. Thus, when the Lord said of Saul that he turned back from following him, and had not kept his commandments, that it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night. 1 Sam. xv. 11. Thus Jeremiah mourns, "O that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night-because they have forsaken the law which the Lord set before them." Jer. ix. 1, 13. Thus Paul laments that Demas had forsaken him, having loved this present evil world. 1 Tim. iv. 10.

But while the christian is thus concerned, his distress is increased by remembering that he too is in the flesh, and consequently exposed to danger. Here again he suffers, and is dejected: how often have we heard him say, "Alas! I too also may fall. fall. Who can tell perhaps I may one day be overcome by the allurements of the world, the violence of my own corruptions, or the temptations of Satan? Perhaps I may be permitted to commit some gross sin, and thus bring dishonour on my profession. I feel an evil heart of unbelief ready to start aside. Ah! the evil day may

come, in which I may be pointed to as the wretched apostate, and avoided as the base traitor, who has again crucified his Lord." Thus the christian, overwhelmed with fears, has trembled lest he should offend his God, and injure that cause in which he is earnestly and sincerely engaged.

But it may be asked, Are not these fears some. times realised? Do not real christians themselves fall? We answer, Yes. And here we come to the most painful part of his experience. Some indeed are happily kept, but others have been suffered to wander from the path of duty for a season. Moses, the meekest of men, was guilty of rashness; Samson, the strongest of men, shewed his weakness; David, the holiest of men, manifested depravity; and Peter, the most zealous of men, evidenced his cowardice. But do believers live in a course of transgresssion? do they return no more? are they hardened in their sin? do they feel no compunction of heart for their conduct? Unhappy men! their misery is What horrors of conscience, what bitter reflections, what a hell do they feel, till restored again to the path of duty and the enjoyment of the divine presence! "The true penitent," cries the backsliding christian," the true penitent, who never before made any profession of religion, penetrated with a sense of his unworthiness, confessing his sins, and returning with anxious desire to his Heavenly Father's bosom, may indulge the pleasing thought of being received and accepted; but how can I, who have sinned against light, abused mercy, and grieved the Holy Spirit, expect to be an object of divine favour? How

extreme.

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